Oliver Twist Exam Review
Exam Format:
· 50 Questions (Please bring a pencil to class- Scantron)
· 10 Matching- Character Identification
· 10 True/False- Discussion Questions
· 30 Multiple Choice- Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions:
• Discuss the circumstances surrounding Oliver Twist’s birth. Note the origin of his name, and his early attributes.
His mother is brought to the workhouse after she is found lying in the street. No one knows who she is or where she came from, and she is not wearing a wedding ring. She dies soon after Oliver’s birth. Parish officials cannot find information about his mother or his father. Mr. Bumble, the parish Beadle, names foundlings alphabetically and since Oliver is the “T” child” he is named “Twist.” Oliver’s determination is obvious from his will to survive at birth. If stereotyped as an orphan of the workhouse indicates his theoretical destiny: to be half starved, beaten, and forced to work hard. Although he is small for his age, he has a strong spirit.
• Discuss on the cause/effect of Oliver's transgression.
Cause: Oliver in the boys who live and work with him are slowly starving to death, and they choose Oliver as the one to ask for more food.
Effect: when he does so, he is seized, placed in confinement, an order to be apprenticed to anyone who would take him. He is kept in solitary confinement for a week. Every other day, he is carried into the dining hall and publicly beaten as a warning to the other boys.
• Discuss Oliver's initial treatment in the Sowerberry household.
When Oliver arrives, fearful and lonely, Mrs. Sowerberry is displeased because he is so small. She pushed him down the cellar stairs and orders her maid, Charlotte, to feed him with scraps saved for the dog. He must sleep among the coffins.
• Examine the cause/effect of Oliver’s retaliation against Noah.
Oliver attacks, Noah and not into the ground. Cause: Noah cries for help. Effect: Charlotte and Mrs. Sowerberry come to Noah defense. They lock Oliver in the cellar. Cause: Mr. Sowerberry is not at home to take care of Oliver. Effect: Mrs. Sowerberry sends Noah for Mr. Bumble. Cause: Noah pretends to be severely injured and implies that Oliver intended to murder them all. Effect: Bumble blames Oliver’s outburst on eating meat. Effect: Oliver is locked in the cellar to be starved into submission.
Cause: Mr. Sowerberry returns home. Effect: he drags Oliver from the cellar Cause: Mrs. Sowerberry cries hysterically. Effect: he runs away. The attack on Noah reveals a different perspective of Oliver. Recently, he had ever complained it had always submitted. He now seems more real, like any human who is pushed to the extreme. He defends his mother’s reputation swiftly and passionately. Noah is a typical bully who becomes cowardly and lies to protect himself.
· Analyze the characteristics of Fagin’s gang. Discuss their interaction with Oliver.
Jack is about Oliver’s page and a short, strange looking, and dirty. He wears a man’s coat. He is smug and confident that appears to flighty and dissolute Oliver. Fagin has a villainous-looking, repulsive face and matted red hair. He is dressed in a greasy flannel gown. Jack introduced Oliver as his friend, and Fagin bile is before him, welcomes him, and invites him to eat with them. The boys are around him, taking his bundle in searching his pockets. Ironically, Oliver feels more welcome and unafraid in the filthy, dilapidated home of a criminal that he has ever felt in his previous “morally upright” homes. He and falls into a deep sleep.
· Analyze the significance of Oliver’s appearance in court. Note Oliver’s inability to speak, and the symbolism of the magistrate’s name.
Dickens uses this scene to point out the main treatment of poor criminals in the English court system of his day. Mr. Fang's name symbolizes the fangs or pointed daggers of the law that are ready to attack and destroy any pauper brought into his court. Mr. Fang deals with Oliver mercilessly and threatens anyone who attempts to speak at his behalf. Oliver, who is unable to speak because of extreme exhaustion and fear, represents the voiceless poor people who had little or no chance to be heard in court. The court officer gives Oliver a false name, Tom White, just as other authority figures have falsely named him, e.g, Twist, chief, vagabond, yet Mr. Brownlow's recognition of something in that boy's face for shadows of the discovery of Oliver's true identity.
· Contrast Oliver’s interlude in Mr. Brownlow’s home with his previous life and analyze Oliver’s reaction.
In the orphanage and workhouse, Oliver was mistreated, starved, and forced to work long hours. In the Brownlow home, but Oliver is surely cared for with love and compassion and has as much food as he desires. Mrs. Mann spoke harshly, beat Oliver, and had no compassion when a child died; Mrs. Bedwin’s love makes Oliver believe he feels the presence of his mother. The portrait of a Lady in the Brownlow home foreshadows the discovery of Oliver's identity. Oliver is intrigued by the portrait, and Mr. Brownlow notices a distinct resemblance to Oliver and the lady in the portrait.
· Discuss the relation between Sikes and Fagin.
They are both thieves and share mutual Knowledge that , if revealed to the authorities, would send one or both of them to the gallows. Fagin uses Kikes to promote his won interests and pays him for his services, yet Fagin's interaction with Barney infers that he plans eventually to betray Sikes. Fagin’s clenched fist, curses, and horrible grin after Sikes leaves the room indicate his deep hatred for him.
· Discuss how Fagin and Sikes treat Oliver and how Oliver reacts. Analyze what Nancy’s response to this reveals about her will.
Oliver begs them to keep him if they must but to send the money & books back to Brownlow so he will know Oliver did not steal them. Fagin laughs because that is exactly what he wants Oliver to become—a thief. When Oliver tries to run away, Nancy begs Sikes to keep the dog away from him and ignores his threats to hurt her if she interferes. Nancy frantically tries stopping Fagin when he begins to beat Oliver and threatens to kill some of them. She laughs at Sikes when he begins to curse and threaten her. In response to Sikes’ taunts about her morals, she acknowledges the truth of the accusations and reveals that she had stolen for Fagin since she was a young child. Her reference to living on the streets infers that she now prostitutes herself in in addition to stealing. Sikes seizes her by the wrist when she lunges at Fagin, and she faints. Nancy’s allusion to Oliver’s future as a thief, a liar, and a devil reveal her sorrow for the child, and her actions in his defense revealed her compassion. Although circumstances in her life have forced her to become part of the criminal element, she has an inherent sense of right and wrong and is basically good.
· Discuss the attempted robbery. Note Sikes’ partners in the crime and Oliver’s role.
Oliver meets with Toby Crackit and Barney, who have made preparations for the robbery. They force Oliver to drink liquor, before he is taken to the scene of the crime. When Oliver realizes they will force him to participate in the robbery, he begs them to let him go. Only Crackit’s interference prevent Sikes from shooting Oliver. The two men remove the shutter, and Spkes commands Oliver to enter and unlock the door for them. Oliver resolves to alert the family even if it means his death, but someone inside the house shoots him before you can do so. Crack and Sikes flee with the badly injured boy.
• Discuss the attributes of the following characters and examine the reaction to Oliver: Giles, Brittles, Rose, Mrs. Maylie, and Mr. Losberne.
Giles, Mrs. Maylie’s butler, is proud of his position and enjoys being in the limelight. He believed Oliver is one of the thieves and basks in the glory of having shot a robber. Mrs. Maylie’s handyman, is quiet and modest. The others referred to him as slow. He supports the Giles account of the crime. Rose, Mrs. Maylie’s companion, is a lovely, compassionate, and intelligent young woman. When she sees Oliver lie in bed, she weeps for him and does not believe he can rob anyone unless someone has forced him to do so. Mrs. Maylie, the elderly nature of the house, is kind and loving. She initially believes Oliver is the thief but changes her mind. When she sees him. She and Rose both want to save. Mr. Losberne, the local doctor, is impetuous, but kind and efficient. He believes Oliver is the thief but wants to save him from jail because of his age and physical condition
• Examine the circumstances surrounding Rose’s illness. Note the significance of Oliver’s chance encounter when he goes to mail a letter to Losbene.
Rose’s illness is somewhat life-threatening. Mrs. Maylie is deeply distressed and apprehensive of losing Rose. Oliver tries to encourage Mrs. Maylie by reminding her of Rose’s goodness and youth. Mrs. Maylie writes two letters, one to Harry Maylie that is not mailed [foreshadowing his importance to the plot] and the other to Losberne requesting his help. When Oliver is on his way to mail the letter to Losberne, he stumbles against the tall man wrapped in a cloak. The man, who is actually Monks, curses and threatens Oliver, but falls into a fit before he can grab him.
• Discuss the outcome of Rose’s illness and analyze the universality of Oliver’s reaction.
Rose becomes delirious and appears to be actually getting worse. Oliver prays for her and feels intuitively that she will live. Rose falls into a deep sleep, and when she awakens, Losberne announces that she will live. Universality: Oliver is excited her health improves, but he is desperately anxious to do something to relieve Rose’s pain. He thinks of all her kindness to him, and longs for the chance to show her how grateful he is. He is afraid he did not do enough for her and may never get a chance to do more. Dickens inserts a word of caution to readers to be careful how they deal with those around them and not to omit the important things in a relationship.
• Discuss the circumstances leading to Nancy’s discovery of the plot between Monks and Fagin, and her reaction to the information.
Fagin agrees to give Sikes money after he threatens to reveal secrets about him that will cause Fagin to hang. Nancy goes to Fagin’s apartment to get the money. Monks appears and tells Fagin that he has seen him and has good news. He and Fagin leave to discuss their business, and Nancy eavesdrops on their conversation. When she leaves Fagin’s she starts in the opposite direction from Sikes room but burst into tears and turns back. That evening, she puts laudanum in Sikes drink, and when he falls into a deep sleep, she hurries to a hotel where Rose staying and begs to speak to her.
• Analyze the content and importance of Nancy’s dialogue with Rose.
Nancy confesses her role in kidnapping Oliver and reveals that Monks paid Fagin to abduct the child and will pay him more when he makes Oliver into a thief. She relates the information she gained when eavesdropping. Monks is Oliver’s brother, and he has destroyed the evidence that would prove this; therefore, Monks will now inherit all of their father’s money. Monks hates Oliver and would kill him if he could do so on undetected. Nancy leaves after telling Rose that if she needs more information, she confined her [Nancy] walking on London Bridge each Sunday night
• Discuss the reappearance of Noah Claypole and Charlotte. Note nations of why he left and Noah’s treatment of Charlotte.
After robbing Sowerberry, the two are running away to London. The relationship between Noah and Charlotte is similar to that between Sikes and Nancy; both women are subservient to harsh, demanding men. She carries their belongings, and he allows her to carry money because if they are caught, he can declare his innocence and have a better chance to escape punishment. Charlotte loves Noah and cater to his demands. Fagin, who observes Noah’s control over Charlotte and eavesdrops on their conversation about the stolen money, lures them into his gang. Fagin’s obvious lack of respect for women and his manipulation of Noah reflect how he controls both make and female members of his gang. When Noah places himself under Fagin’s control, he will do as he is told and Charlotte will become like Nancy—sent out to work the streets as a thief and a prostitute.
• Analyze Fagin’s tactics for luring Noah into his gang and what Noah’s response reveals about him. Correlate with the way young people today can be drawn into gangs.
Fagin first gives Noah liquor. He then alludes to Noah his conversation with Charlotte about their robbing Sowerberry but assures him their safe at the Three Cripples as long as Fagin makes them safe. Fagin discusses his friend, who might have work for Noah that will supply enough for him to live an easy life with very little work and risk. Noah agrees to Fagin suggestion that he rob children. After Noah, now known as Morris Bolter, moves to Fagin’s house, Fagin becomes more insolent and informs Noah that only he, Fagin, can be the authority. When Noah objects, again threatens to reveal the robbery and send Noah to the gallows. He then explains to know the necessity of only one leader and of mutual dependency. Noah concedes to Fagin because he respects his genius and fears his wrath. Thanks they use similar tactics: promises of a place to belong, easy money, threats, and fear.